Written Answers Wednesday 24 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will appoint a new Scots Makar.

Fiona Hyslop: Arrangements to appoint a successor to Edwin Morgan are currently being finalised. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37491 on 24 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be changes to the appointment of the Scots Makar.

Fiona Hyslop: Discussions are ongoing to agree a new process for appointing the next Scots Makar. An announcement will be made once the process has been finalised.

Environment

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will (a) promote the application of the ecosystem approach that integrates protected areas into broader land or seascapes for the conservation of biological diversity and (b) facilitate sustainable use within protected areas, as agreed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enhance the (a) coverage, (b) quality, (c) representativeness and (d) connectivity of protected areas as a contribution to the development of representative systems of protected areas and coherent ecological networks, as agreed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Roseanna Cunningham: The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) met in Nagoya in October 2010, and agreed a new ten year Strategic Plan, alongside many other decisions. This plan contains twenty headline targets, organised under five strategic goals that address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, reduce the pressures on biodiversity, safeguard biodiversity at all levels, enhance the benefits provided by biodiversity, and provide for capacity building.

  We welcome the agreements reached at Nagoya which should help to provide fresh impetus to international efforts to secure improvement in the condition of global biodiversity and in its capability to deliver the services on which we all depend. We need to take time to assess how best to take forward the individual elements in the many decisions that came from Nagoya which have potential application in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government for its part is assessing the new CBD Strategic Plan, and considering with partners, including Scottish Natural Heritage, the need to revise our own Biodiversity Strategy and the actions planned under that strategy. In making this assessment, we shall have to take account of new EU Biodiversity targets agreed in March 2010 and the forthcoming EU Biodiversity Strategy, expected in early 2011. We shall also have to consider the connections between these objectives for our Biodiversity Strategy and other policies and programmes that impact on the terrestrial and marine environment.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the UK Public Bodies Bill regarding (a) the future operation and interests of the forest estate in Scotland and (b) the powers, responsibilities and obligations of Scottish ministers.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s position is that the Public Bodies Bill, as introduced, does not affect the powers, responsibilities and obligations of Scottish Ministers with respect to the public forest estate in Scotland. The Bill provides for new powers for the Westminster Government, by order, to amend the constitution of the Forestry Commission and to amend, delegate or transfer the functions of the Forestry Commission in relation to England. The Bill does not add, or subtract from the existing powers, responsibilities and obligations of Scottish Ministers in relation to forestry.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the UK Government in relation to changes to the control and management of Scotland’s forestry that might arise from the proposals in its Public Bodies Bill.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am in contact with ministers in England and Wales with responsibility for forestry and will continue to monitor the passage of the Bill to ensure that the interests of Scottish forestry are protected.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is seeking powers to delegate the powers of the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland through the UK Public Bodies Bill.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government already has the powers by virtue of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act, to delegate the powers of the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland and therefore has no need to seek such powers through the UK Public Bodies Bill.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland and how the UK Public Bodies Bill might affect this body.

Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Public Bodies Bill provides powers for the Westminster Government, with the consent of Scottish Ministers, to abolish the Regional Advisory Committees as statutory bodies. The Scottish Government intends to retain the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland, either as a statutory or non-statutory body.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland has with regard to ensuring that proposals for forestry and woodland planting, felling and management protect and enhance biodiversity, historic environment and landscape.

Roseanna Cunningham: The role of the Forestry Commission's Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland is to advise the Forestry Commissioners on the resolution of disputed grant applications where an objection from a statutory consultee cannot be resolved through the normal channels.

National Health Service

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the outline business case for a new East Lothian community hospital in Haddington.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is aware that NHS Lothian is currently reviewing this project. A date for submission of the outline business case is still to be confirmed.

National Health Service

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects work to start on the East Lothian community hospital in Haddington.

Nicola Sturgeon: Until an outline and full business case have been approved for this project, firm dates cannot be given on when work is expected to commence on the East Lothian community hospital in Haddington.

National Health Service

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the East Lothian community hospital in Haddington to open to patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: Until an outline and full business case have been approved for this project, firm dates cannot be given on when the East Lothian community hospital in Haddington will open to patients.

National Health Service

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Grampian has been encouraged to submit a business case for the funding of a new health centre for Forres and, if so, when a decision on funding will be made.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are aware that NHS Grampian is developing an outline business case (OBC) reflecting the revised scope of the project. Any decision on funding routes will be dependant on the conclusion of an OBC.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the prisoner progression and community reintegration facilities available at each prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  After the Spencer Report the Cabinet Secretary for Justice asked HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) to review our progression and community reintegration processes. That inspection work is underway now and we look forward to HMCIP’s comments and recommendations. Since the Spencer Report we now have a senior manager, usually the Deputy Governor, in each prison with responsibility for overseeing the systems and signing off on decisions of progression and community access requests. multi disciplinary progression management groups meet in prisons regularly to assess the suitability of prisoners to progress. All agencies involved in the management of individual prisoners and the prisoner her/himself are invited to contribute to this process.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been secured by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each year since it came into force.

Frank Mulholland: The total amount of money secured by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (including both the National Casework Division and Civil Recovery Unit) through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, broken down per year is as follows:

  2003-04: £2,191,175

  2004-05: £2,348,846

  2005-06: £4,835,541

  2006-07: £6,120,955

  2007-08: £5,547,492

  2008-09: £6,332,081

  2009-10: £5,510,558

  Total: £32,886,648

  These figures include confiscation orders made by criminal courts (as sought by the National Casework Division), civil orders of court (following application on behalf of Scottish Ministers by the Civil Recovery Unit to recover assets unlawfully obtained) and cash seizures supervised by the Civil Recovery Unit.

Respite Care

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much respite funding Glasgow City Council will receive in its local government baseline for 2011-12.

Shona Robison: In assessing the overall level of funding to be provided to local authorities in 2011-12, the Scottish Government has negotiated a funding package with the COSLA leadership. For each local authority to secure its share of that package, it will be required to agree to deliver certain commitments, including "continuing to work with the Scottish Government towards implementation of the Carers and Young Carers Strategy at local level, including the maintenance of an extra 10,000 weeks respite care." Under the terms negotiated, if Glasgow City Council agrees to deliver the full package, its overall resource funding for 2011-12 will be reduced by 2.6% compared to the funding it received in 2010-11. If the council chooses not to agree to the full package, its resource funding will be reduced by 6.4%.

  A provisional funding allocation of the total local government settlement to each council for 2011-12 will be announced to the Parliament in a statement in early December 2010, accompanied by a finance circular issued to local authorities. The provisional allocation will be calculated on the basis that all local authorities will agree the terms of the package. Subject to their responses, final amounts will then be confirmed in two stages, first in a local government finance order which will be laid for parliamentary approval in February 2011, following the passage of the Budget Bill, and second in an amendment order to be laid in March 2011 after all local authorities have set their council tax levels for 2011-12.

  Within the total to be provided to Glasgow City Council, under the terms of the local government funding settlement, ring fencing for specific services has largely been removed. As a result, whether or not Glasgow City Council agrees to the package, funding for respite care within the total it receives will not be separately identified. It will be for the council to determine what it spends on respite care.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the projected outturn efficiency reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 for the Crofters Commission is £0.038 million as compared with the published planned efficiency of £0.225 million.

Roseanna Cunningham: The planned efficiency was linked to the transfer of the Crofters Commission office to Great Glen House. Realisation of the planned efficiency is dependent on negotiations with the commission’s previous landlord. Savings are expected to begin in 2010-11.

  The Crofters Commission provided £0.038 million efficiency savings from internal restructuring, and the Director General for Rural Affairs, Environment and Services portfolio exceeded the planned efficiency by £1.120 million in 2009-10.

Scottish Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes are supported by the National Assets and Flooding category of the Environmental and Rural Services Level 2 budget and how it proposes to achieve the 17% reduction in funding between 2010-11 and 2011-12, as indicated in table 11.06 on page 178 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Natural Assets and Flood budget line support programmes aimed at promoting the air quality and the water environment, implementing the EU Noise Directive and the Government’s support to flood risk management. It is intended that savings will be made in terms of the level of support provided to air quality and noise actions. We will build on past actions and prioritise available resource to maximise benefits. These budget reductions will not impact on our statutory obligations in these areas.

Social Care

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many older people have had meals services provided by each local authority in each year since 2007.

Shona Robison: This is the first year the Scottish Government has collected this data from local authorities. Home Care Services, Scotland 2010 was published today and can be found on the Scottish Government website. The publication contains information on how many clients aged 65 and over receive a meals service.